Near Berlin, nineteenth-century water mills are being reused, to produce clean energy. The mills have stood unused for long periods of time, but are now being reworked as part of the green energy revolution. The Gollmitzer mill, north of Berlin, is one example. Kai Rogozinski, a heating engineer, was fascinated by the mill and the "power of the water." Using the Zuppinger wheel design, Rogozinski built a wheel that looks old and idyllic, but actually generates electricity via a concealed generator. 90,000 ilowatts of electricity were generated last year, with 65,000 of that going to the German electricity grid. Hydropower tariffs are priced lower than solar power tariffs, and so Rogozinski uses a lot of the energy he produces himself. He says that financial support was essential to allowing him to build the mill. In addition to producing hydropower, it is also hoped that the mill can be used to produce flour.
The green movement is very present in Germany, from recycling to alternative energy. The new situation of mills encourages this movement, and will be a positive thing for both the German job market and the environment, as well as preserving Germany's unique landscape and history.
http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15952439,00.html
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